Stamp Out Hunger is huge success

Posted on May 12, 2015

Food collected by USPSResidents across McLean County emptied their cupboards for the “Stamp Out Hunger” food drive. (Facebook/Kaitlyn Riley)

By Terry James

BLOOMINGTON – McLean County residents made this year’s Stamp Out Hunger event a huge success. Mailman Al tells WJBC’s Dan Swaney residents left more than 85,000 pounds of food near their mailboxes.  He says the donations are still being accepted.

“I picked up a bag today and there was a little not in there saying, ‘Sorry I forgot, Will you still take this?’ and I was like you don’t have to apologize!”, said Mailman Al.

The original goal had been set at 72,000 pounds of food.  The donated items will help the Midwest food bank restock shelves.

Click here to hear the full interview.

This post was edited at 1:25 p.m. Wednesday to reflect an update on the amount of food collected by the food drive.

WJBC’s Terry James can be reached at [email protected].

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…